NANS Raises Alarm Over Plight of Nigerian Students on Government Scholarships Abroad

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the Federal Government and the Ministry of Education to urgently address the reported abandonment of Nigerian students on government-sponsored scholarships abroad, warning that they should not be left to suffer in foreign countries.

In a statement on Wednesday, Comrade Kenechukwu Aneke, NANS Vice President, External Affairs, stressed that the government must fulfill its responsibility to care for citizens both at home and in the diaspora.

“The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the umbrella body representing millions of Nigerian students at home and abroad, is deeply alarmed and outraged by the heartbreaking situation of Nigerian students on government-sponsored scholarships in Morocco, as highlighted in a widely circulated video exposing their abandonment and extreme hardship,” the statement said.

According to NANS, students sent abroad under scholarship programmes with allocated budgets have reportedly been left to fend for themselves, leading to dehumanizing conditions, including begging for money to eat. The association also cited the tragic death of Bashir Malami, a scholarship student, as evidence of the severe consequences of neglect and administrative failure.

“We view this as a blatant betrayal of trust by the relevant authorities, including the office responsible for overseas scholarships under the Federal Ministry of Education. It is unacceptable that funds budgeted for these programmes are not being properly utilized, leaving young Nigerians— the future leaders of our nation—exposed to hunger, destitution, and danger in a foreign land,” NANS stated.

The association called on President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Education, the Federal Scholarship Board, and all relevant agencies to take immediate action, demanding:

• Urgent repatriation and welfare support for affected students in Morocco and other countries.
• Full investigation into scholarship fund mismanagement and accountability for those responsible.
• Release of all outstanding stipends, accommodations, and allowances without delay.
• Comprehensive reform of the overseas scholarship programme to prevent future neglect.

“The education and welfare of Nigerian students, whether at home or abroad, must not be treated with levity. The government has a sacred duty to protect its citizens, especially those it has sent abroad on national assignments. NANS stands in solidarity with these suffering students and their families. We will not relent until justice is served and their dignity is restored. Enough is enough!”

NANS also urged the public, media, and civil society to amplify the call for swift government intervention to safeguard the rights and welfare of Nigerian students abroad.

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